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(KMOV.com) – A man was rescued by an off-duty fireman Sunday after his vehicle entered the River Des Peres.

The man was driving along Courtois Street when his truck left the roadway for an unknown reason near Carondelet in south St. Louis.

The driver was pulled from the river and taken to a hospital after witnesses signaled for help and an off-duty firefighter leapt into the water. The fireman was trained in water rescue, and reached the car just as the driver surfaced.

“Circumstances being what they were, he was actually down here on his day off," said St. Louis Fire Captain Dan Sutter. "And was able to enter the water and make a difference in a positive way. “

The driver was reportedly incoherent when he surfaced, and even though he was transported urgently, he is expected to survive.

Firefighters remained on scene and attempted to find if any other occupants were in the vehicle, though the driver appeared to be alone.